Column of the Day: Now Hear This

The Associated Press

Published Friday, August 13, 2004

Quotes from Associated Press entertainment coverage:

"I really don't know what I did that made us break up. It was sad, because I really cared for him, but I still wish him well. But I will never publicly put down a black man." -- Vivica A. Fox, on her romance with rapper 50 Cent.

"My first and only attempt ended up with me smacking myself in the back of the head. I left it to the professionals." -- Benjamin Bratt, Halle Berry's co-star in "Catwoman," saying he wasn't very proficient in cracking the whip.

"I used to think I looked like a marionette when I stand up. But now I'm standing up more and wearing skirts more." -- Norah Jones, on performing live. The normally stationary pianist is now striding out from her perch behind the piano to sing.

"That shocked me completely. I always thought of Superman looking like Christopher Reeve ... That's not me at all." -- Matt Damon, mentioned as a potential Man of Steel when Wolfgang Peterson was developing the next "Superman" movie. Peterson dropped out to do "Troy."

"I do mourn it a great deal, but I am very wonderfully, happily busy, so I'm awfully glad. If it completely stopped me in my tracks it would be terrible, but it hasn't." -- Julie Andrews, on the loss of her singing voice. The star of "The Princess Diaries 2: Royal Engagement" underwent surgery in 1997 to remove non-cancerous nodules in her throat. The operation spoiled her four-octave voice.

"I'm in better condition than most people my age. At least from the shoulders down. (Laughs.) From the shoulders up, I'm only about a quarter there. I can remember lyrics from songs I sung 60 years ago. But what happened to me last week I'd have a little trouble telling you." -- Pete Seeger, 85, the dean of American folk singers.